Pizzeria owner plants rodents in rival shops

Nikolas Galiatsatos, the owner of Nina's Bella Pizzeria in Upper Darby, was spotted by two police officers who were eating lunch at rival Verona Pizza Monday afternoon as he entered the bathroom with a bag, then left without it.

A check of the bathroom revealed the bag, which contained several mice, had been placed in the ceiling tiles.

Investigators say Galiatsatos then walked across the street to Uncle Nick's pizza and dropped another bag of mice into a garbage can.

"We believe that he was trying to put the competitive pizza places out of business," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.

Galiatsatos was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, harassment, and animal cruelty.